Neiman Marcus hires private club exec from London’s Soho House

Dallas-based luxury retailer Neiman Marcus is tapping a former executive of London’s members-only Soho House as its new chief brand officer.

Nabil Aliffi, formerly global chief creative officer for more than two years at Soho House, a brand credited with updating the world’s private club scene, brings broader hospitality and international experience to Neiman Marcus. During his tenure, the first Soho House in Texas opened in 2021 on South Congress in Austin.

At the same time, Neiman Marcus promoted Stefanie Tsen Ward to chief retail officer. She joined the company in 2018 and was a key leader in development of the retailer’s proprietary remote-selling capabilities. That platform kept sales associates linked to their customers when stores were closed.

Both are new positions that report to Ryan Ross, president of Neiman Marcus Brand, who was hired last August from Williams Sonoma to help with CEO Geoffroy Van Raemdonck’s vision to expand the retailer’s abilities to create deeper relationships with customers and gain more of their spending.

Neiman Marcus has operated restaurants and catering since the 1950s and has offered exclusive travel, but hospitality is beginning to be defined differently in recent years in luxury retail.

RH (Restoration Hardware) last fall opened its first “Guesthouse” in New York. The furniture retailer has said its space behind the Knox Street Store can fit a boutique hotel someday.

Highland Park Village added Park House invitation-only club in late 2018 to its luxury shopping scene.

Aliffi also held leadership positions at London’s Selfridges department store and Urban Outfitters after he co-founded Vulture Magazine.

“Nabil is a creative visionary who brings a unique perspective in making Neiman Marcus a luxury lifestyle destination,” Ross said. “He knows our customer and how to create a platform for loyal engagement across channels.”

Neiman Marcus, which had $5 billion in annual sales, has said its customers fully returned to stores over the last year. Nearly 70% of Neiman Marcus Group stores reached their highest revenue in more than a decade. Online sales in its fiscal year ended in July was $1.5 billion.

More than 1,000 Neiman Marcus associates record at least $1 million in sales a year.

Neiman Marcus also said chief marketing officer Daz McColl is leaving after three years to pursue other opportunities that weren’t disclosed.

Twitter: @MariaHalkias

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